Community Profile: A big move from Boston to Granite Bay

Meaghan Palmer headed west to Granite Bay when she married her husband, Mark Palmer.

The two met at Boston College and moved to the area in 2007.

“He was from Granite Bay which he thought was great,” Meaghan said. “It was a big move but he likes the weather here. That was a big selling point.

Mark moved to Granite Bay when he was a year old and his parents, sister, aunt and uncle live here.

Meaghan likes the proximity to Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Napa.

“Everything’s really close,” she said.

Meaghan is from Springfield, Mass., and thinks Granite Bay is similar with lots of neighbors, sidewalks and parks.

“Granite Bay reminds me of home.”

The Palmers live in Wexford in a home with a yard for the youngsters and an area that’s close to schools.

They have four youngsters, ages 5, 3 and 1-year-old twins. The oldest will be entering kindergarten.

Meaghan likes Granite Bay for its public schools, sports and recreation.

“There are so many activities.”

She enjoys the Moms Club, a non-profit group in Granite Bay, which has grown from 60 members to over 100 in the last few years. That’s because a lot of people are moving here, she said.

Other recreation options the Palmers enjoy are the Granite Bay Football Club, high school basketball, Lakeside Little League and other sports. She and Mark enjoy playing at Granite Bay Golf Club. And they are members of Lifetime Athletic in Roseville where they take the young Palmers swimming.

“We spend a lot of time there,” Meaghan said.

Mark’s office relocated to Roseville, just four miles from home, in 2013 so commuting is convenient.

The community has several parks and sport fields, the Granite Bay branch of the Placer County Library, the upscale Quarry Ponds Town Center, Country Gables Shopping Center and other shopping on the corners of Douglas Boulevard and Auburn Folsom Road and shopping areas at Douglas and Sierra College Boulevard.

Granite Bay schools have a high ranking. According to GreatSchools, a non-profit organization, schools that have a 10 out of 10 ranking are Oakhills, Greenhills and Ridgeview elementary and Cavitt Junior High which are within Eureka Union School District and Granite Bay High is within Roseville Joint Union High School District.

Granite Bay offers many amenities and activities for home buyers who move for a variety of reasons, said Kendra Bishop, broker associate with The Bishop Real Estate Group.

“I believe that the cost of living being lower than the Bay Area is a driving factor coupled with great schools, an active lifestyle, shopping and restaurants,” Bishop said.

“It’s a lifestyle change for many people and a safe environment.”

When Bishop shows properties, she takes buyers to the communities in Granite Bay and talks about what each has to offer.

People choose a community depending on their wants and needs, she said.

There are several named communities, including Wexford, Los Lagos, Treelake Village, Walden Woods, Greyhawk, Grosvenor Downs, Douglas Ranch and more. Buyers can choose from varying lot sizes, home styles, proximity to Granite Bay Golf and Country Club and other amenities.

D.R. Horton is offering new homes at Enclave, CalAtlantic Homes has The Residences at Greyhawk and there are custom homes and lots.

Those looking for homes are first-time buyers, families, move-up buyers, people relocating into the area and retirees, all of the above, Bishop said.

Her firm helps with relocations for several professions - doctors at area medical centers, and those who work at banking institutions, financial and technology sectors.

“There’s really a cross section relocating from the Bay Area and of people who can work from home,” she said. “One industry that’s bringing the most people is medical and physicians are among the first-time buyers.”

In July, 141 active homes were available; that’s up from June when there were 134 homes. Prices range from $349,000 to one home at $12 million. The median price is $912,499 and the price per square foot is $249.

“It’s a neutral market with 3-1/2 months of inventory. Under 3 months is a seller’s market; over 6 months is a buyer’s market,” Bishop said.

The number of days on the market is 53.

In June, 38 homes closed and another 42 went into contract. The number of homes closing is down 17-1/2 percent from last year; in contract is up 13-1/2 percent from the prior year.